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- | CHARACTER BUILDING | | Name Inventor | | Names are generated by performing a Markov Chain analysis of the real baby names in a database, then spewing out statistically similar names based on this analysis. Names are unusual. Good for fantastical or alien settings. | | The Name Generator | | Generates a list of random fantasy names, created from different sets of "rule-files", not from a list of existing fantasy names. The program is downloadable as well, allowing you to create your own rule-files. | | Flat Earth Games Name Generator | | Generates fantasy names with an Elven, Orc, Dwarf, Hobbit or even Celtic flare. | | Medieval Names Archive | | An SCA (society for creative anachronisms) medieval naming guide. The focus is on authenticity but does contain links to a large number of name sources authentic and otherwise. | | Baby Namer | | The best baby name site on the web. Database includes over 20,000 names with dozens of ways to look them up and list them | | | Writers talk about naming characters. | | Alien Intelligence | | Short article with some nice graphics which may be of interest to those creating an alien world or characters. From Discover Magazine. Kind of basic, but interesting enough. | | You and Your Characters | | An article on characterization by James Patrick Kelly | | Fiction Writer's Character Chart | | Once filled out, this chart helps writers get a firm grasp on major characters. | | How to Create a Character Profile | | The Lazy Scholar shows you the easy way to create and keep track of the characteristics that make for full, well-rounded characters. | | The X-Factor: Key To Creating Believable Characters | | Successful adult and children's fiction writer, Don Whittington, reveals three key ingredients for good characterization. | | Building Characters Using Chinese Astrology | | Kristen Kyle shares one technique for creating characters. | | Enneagram Personality Dynamics | | The nine personality types of the Enneagram each represent a motivating need for an individual. | | Creating Memorable Characters | | Article by Sherwood Smith. | | Strong vs. Weak Characters | | What makes a strong character weak? And how can you tell? By C. J. Cherryh | | Creating Memorable Characters | | This one by John Hewitt |
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- WORLD BUILDING | Patricia C. Wrede's World Building Questions | | P.C. Wrede's questionaire is probably the best known of its kind on the web. It's made up of many questions covering dozen's of areas which every world builder needs. The only thing I don't like is that the topics are presented in alphabetical order rather starting with the basics and working toward the specifics in a natural progression. Still, with a little fore thought you can arrange the topics to cover the aspects that are most important to you and your creation and let the rest adjust itself to suit. An absolutely fantastic resources. | | Constructing an SF Universe | | Basic guidelines for creating worlds in science fiction. | | Cities, Population, Subsistance and Land Area | | How land area and population relate to each other, and touches other related subjects like subsistence. | | World Builders | | A support site for a college level class. Extensive references and scientific backing. | | Worldbuilding -- Rollicking Rules of Ecosystems | | From Holly Lisle's Writing Advice for Beginners. 11 solid rules for developing a working and believable ecosystem for your world. Of particular use to those trying to concieve of an alien world and culture. | | Designing a New Magic System | | While it is intended for the RPG designer there is plenty of good tips for writers. | | Fractal Worldmap Generator | | Generate your own worldmaps in GIF-format. | | Irony Games Web RPG Tools | | Create maps and floor plans from cavern systems, outdoor terrain and small villages to entire worlds and even star systems. | | Alien Planet Designer | | Not only does it do all the calculations for you it explains the science involved. Wonderful site for those interested in the real science behind the fiction. | | Village Generator | | CGI-program that generates a whole fantasy village with a map, castles, craftmen, farms and houses and villagers. It generates a family for every (almost) house and farm, with random names, profession, equipment etc.The village created is inspired by the Deverry books written by Katherine Kerr. | | The Tree of Life | | Information about the interrelationships of different species of plants and animals. |
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- | LANGUAGE | | Model Languages | | The newsletter discussing newly imagined words for newly imagined worlds | | How to Invent a Real Language *site unavailable when checked on January 14, 2001* | | A good introductory site on language creation. Easy to understand for the lay person. | | The Language Construction Kit | | Presents linguistically sound methods for creating naturalistic languages-- which can be reversed to create non-naturalistic languages |
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- | RELIGION, RITES AND CEREMONIES | | The Catholic Encyclopedia | | An extensive collection of entries. Includes places, people, saints, doctrine and more. | | Religion | | A collection of Rialto (rec.org.sca) and other articles made by Stefan li Rous (Mark Harris) Includes articles on medieval and rennaisance saints, popes, monks, bibles, the crusades, religions, etc. | | The Ancient Hawaiian Religion | | A brief overview of the religios beliefs of the Hawaiians. | | Walk Like an Egyptian | | A Modern Guide to The Philosophies and Religion of Ancient Egypt. | | The Cosmic Mysteries of Mithras | | Essay on the mysterious and secretive religion that was active in ancient Rome. | | Catholics, Heretics and Heresy | | Discusses The Cathars, The Templars, The Knights of Malta, Rose Croix and Rosicrucians, Rennes-le-Chateau and The Merovingians. | | Noncanonical Homepage | | A collection of early Christian and Jewish text. Includes the Apocrypha and other writings all complete on-line. | | The Rig Veda | | The most ancient of Hindu scripture. Includes passages and links to other sites containing Hindu scripture and general Hindu information. | | A General Theory of Religion | | This study aims to clarify and explain the essence of religion. | | Vodoun Culture | | An overview of Voodo and its culture. | | The Roots of The New Age | | A study of the traditions upon which new age mysticism is based. | | UK Wedding Traditions | | Offers a list of traditions still in use today along with some plausible, though not neccessarily accurate explanations of their origins. | | Burials | | Funerary practices of the middle ages and renaissance. | | Rites of Passage | | Modern adaptations of handfasting ceremonies. | | Weddings | | A collection of Rialto (rec.org.sca) and other articles made by Stefan li Rous (Mark Harris) Good info on period weddings and traditions. Includes an Elizabethan wedding ceremony reconstructed from period sources. | | Medieval and Renaissance Theme Wedding FAQ | | Questions and answers about traditions, ceremonies, and handfastings | | Medieval and Renaissance Wedding Page | | Contains information and links to such topics as handfasting, Viking weddings, Irish weddings, Scottish weddings, food, etc. Very good source. |
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- | MAGIC, OCCULT AND PARANORMAL STUDIES | | Designing a New Magic System | | Although written for game designers this is a valuable source of information on creating a magic system for a fictional, written world as well. | | Herbs and Alchemy | | Covers medicinal herbs, magical preperations, alchemy and magic. | | The Alchemy Website | | Information on Alchemy in all its facets. Searchable | | Natural Magick | | First published in 1558 and later expanded this text gives a perspective on what the scientists of that early era percieved their universe. | | Puzuzu Spells and Magic | | Background music that aims for a spooky feel. Otherwise this site has a lot of information on the basic practice of magic and the casting of spells. | | Ley Lines and Earth Energy Lines | | Awful bright green background is designed to blind. Short article on the idea of ley lines. | | The Skeptic's Dictionary | | Over 338 skeptical definitions and essays on occult, paranormal, supernatural and pseudoscientific ideas and practices with references to the best skeptical literature. | | Paranormal: A to Z | | A valuable resource. Articles and links on tons of paranormal subjects. |
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- | FOLKTALES | | Changelings | | An Essay by D.L. Ashliman. In depth study of the changeling legends. Very well done. | | Myths and Legends | | Extensive information arranged by region. | | Mything Links | | Be sure to turn your sound down unless you like listening to an endless midi version of "Greensleaves". Besides that one fault this site is a very useful annotated & Illustrated Collection of Worldwide Links to Mythologies, Fairy Tales & Folklore, Sacred Arts & Traditions . | | Folklore and Mythology Electronic Texts | | Probably the biggest collection of folklore and fairytales on the web. |
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- | ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS | | Mark Millmore's Ancient Egypt | | Main focus is on the pyramids, royalty and heiroglyphs. | | History of Ancient Egypt | | Includes a chronology of ancient Egypt, an article on the role of women, and information on Nubia as well. | | The Aztecs | | Nicely organized list of links to everything pertaining to the Aztecs. | | Mesopotamia | | Very good site on Mesopotamian history. Includes language, literature, science and more. | | Mysteries of Chaco | | Looks at a Stone Age culture that vanished in the semi-desert region of the Southwestern United States. | | Daily Life | | Series includes Life in Ancient Greece, China, Rome, India andEgypt | | History of the Ancients | | A history of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. | | Ancient Ireland | | Nancy Provencher's page on when the Celt's first came to Ireland and other early Irish history. | | The Perseus Project | | The Perseus Project is an evolving digital library of resources for the study of the ancient world and beyond. Great resource with thousands of images and a searchable database. | | Pompeii Yellow Pages (site unavailable when checked on 1/14/01) | I keep hoping this site will reappear... they've got a new URL from what I can tell, but it hasn't got any content. I'm keeping this here until I'm satisfied that it won't be resurrected.
The Pompeii Yellow Pages combined the discoveries of Pompeii with descriptions in ancient literature toprovide a comprehensive guide to the everyday life in the Roman city of Pompeii. Great site. | | Life in Antique Rome | | What and how the Romans ate, social classes, dress of the citizen, hairstyles, birth control, and the layout of the Roman home. | | De Imperatoribus Romanis: An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors | | An on-line encyclopedia on the rulers of the Roman empire from Augustus (27 BC-AD 14) to Constantine XI Palaeologus (1449-1453) supplemented by an ancient and medieval atlas, a link to a virtual catalog of Roman coins, and other recommended links to related sites. |
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- | ARMS, ARMOR AND COMBAT | | Archery | | A collection of Rialto (rec.org.sca) and other articles made by Stefan li Rous (Mark Harris). Many sources on archery of the middle ages and rennaisance. | | Archery Through The Ages | | Fabulous site. Lots of graphics (including folks in period costume using their bows) and well researched information. | | Firearms and Weaponry | | Traps, snares, blades, gunsmithing, military small and heavy arms, archery and more. Lots of articles. | | The Fantasy Writer's Companion: Creating Fantastical Swords | | Do you write about characters with swords? Then give your swords character. Three easy steps to creating memorable weapons for the heroes and villains of your fantasy writings. | | Therion Arms | | A nice collection of images of historical arms and armor, including links to other resources. | | Cuir Bouilli | | A type of leather armor. Instructions on how its made. | | Old Sword-Play | | Compiled from the works of various authors of the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries by a Victorian author. | | Study of Period Rapiers | | Descriptions of various blades with photos from 1550-1670 | | Dictionary of Military Terms | | Definitions of over 6,500 military terms. |
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- | CASTLES | | Castles on the Web | | Offers castle links, castle photos, castle site of the day, castles for kids, free castle web pages and more. Searchable | | Castles of Wales | | Wales is home to some of Europe's finest surviving and most important examples of medieval castle construction. Site has some good pictures and information on over 400 different Welsh castles. |
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